Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of Gestalt Therapy?

1. Collaboration

2. Past experiences focus

3. Here and now awareness

4. Behavior modification

The correct answer is: Here and now awareness

Gestalt Therapy is centered around the principle of "here and now awareness," which emphasizes the importance of focusing on the present moment and one's immediate experiences rather than dwelling on past events or future possibilities. This therapeutic approach encourages clients to become aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as they occur in real-time, fostering self-discovery and personal responsibility. The concept of "here and now" facilitates a deeper understanding of how past experiences influence current behavior, but the primary focus remains on the client's present experience. By helping clients become more aware of their current feelings and behaviors, therapists can guide them toward achieving greater self-awareness and integration. In contrast to this key characteristic, other options such as collaboration, past experiences focus, and behavior modification may be components or strategies used in various therapeutic approaches, but they do not encapsulate the essence of Gestalt Therapy as effectively as "here and now awareness" does. Collaboration can be part of many therapeutic modalities, while focusing on past experiences may be more aligned with psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapies. Behavior modification, on the other hand, is a strategy typically associated with more structured and behavior-based therapies, which diverges from the person-centered and experiential core of Gestalt Therapy.